How To Renovate A Bathroom On A Budget

This post may include affiliate links in which we earn a commission, as we are supported by our users. All opinions expressed are always our own and any commissions earned are of no cost to you.

Upon buying our first house, my husband Charlie and I set out to take on a “fixer upper” and first on our list was updating the bathroom on a budget. Only a couple months away from getting married, we were on a fast timeline and tight budget, so our initial planning involved many items we felt we could save on and pretty well live with. We felt that with getting a new vanity, new light fixtures and taking out the tile wainscoting, while leaving the existing tile in the shower, we could feel settled.

From a design perspective, I knew that if we could get

• new plumbing fixtures
• new sconces
• new mirror
• new vanity
• new hardware

that we would feel to be in a completely different space, which, as you can see from the pictures, would be most welcome. In general, many of these items can be updated easily and can bring an entirely new look to your bathroom!

Construction

Beginning with taking out the tile, we quickly learned, that homes built in the 1970s were built with incredible construction meant to last what seems to be many…many lifetimes. After hours of swinging, the tile, that we thought we would quickly sledgehammer out as they do on HGTV, still had little removed. Turns out that in the 70’s, builders mounted tile on a bed of mortar attached to metal screen. Seeing this (and the holes that were being made in the sheetrock), we realized that the tile could not just be eliminated from the wainscotting, but instead had to be completely removed all around the bathroom. With every project, I can promise you will have an unexpected, glorious (haha) change that will alter your plans. Charlie and I now say every project will take about 10 hours longer and $100 more than expected. But hey, that’s the beautiful journey of creating, right?!!

Eventually all of the tile was removed and we decided to take all the walls down to the studs, rip out the vanity and existing fixtures, as they either were gross and couldn’t stay, or had been pretty well torn up in the process of removing the tile.

All that remained of the original bathroom was the toilet, tub, window and mosaic tile flooring.

Selections

Realizing that we were now down to bare bones, we set out on a quest to fill everything in without breaking the budget. In many ways, the designer in me was squealing with delight as there were endless possibilities of finishes, fixtures, and tiles oh my! But…then the part of me that remembered I was still in college and had little money in my wallet kicked in and made me think slightly differently. Not that we couldn’t have a beautiful bathroom, but that I needed to find a way to find lovely options on a different scale.  

Please know: there can be beauty at every price point and you don’t have to use a Walker Zanger tile or Newport Brass plumbing fixture to have a gorgeous bathroom that you love to get ready in every day!! Good design doesn’t have to break the bank.

Tile

Plumbing Fixtures

Having installed the tile (check!) and fixed the window (check!), we turned to plumbing fixtures: shower heads and faucets, which are entire worlds unto themselves with as many options as types of candy at Halloween. I wanted something simple, slightly modern but still timeless. After defining the silhouette we wanted, I honestly struggled over the finish. As much as I love a beautiful gold or polished nickel faucet finish, I just couldn’t justify the increased cost at the time, so we landed on the lovely polished chrome Moen Genta 8 in. Widespread faucet and Moen Alder shower head/faucet combo, that we would pair with gold detailed sconces and vanity hardware.

Vanity

For the vanity, we initially intended to rehab a piece of furniture with a sink and countertop that would add character to the space, however we realized upon taking out the existing vanity, that the tile had not been continued under the base. Again, 10 hours and $100…..

Since we were not changing the mosaic tile floor and could not buy more to add, we enlisted the fabulous help of my dad to build the vanity and mirror and install them in our bathroom. His help was such a God send, as he not only was able to construct several custom pieces, but he also taught us many important tips and tricks along the way in the entire construction process!! We had him paint both the vanity and the mirror in the same color as our trim paint (Sherwin Williams Extra White SW7006) which would also go with the countertop and hardware that we had selected.  

Countertops

Once the vanity was installed, my dad and Charlie were able to install the countertop/sink combination that we had found at Home Depot. While many would just select a slab of quartz which would provide great aesthetics and durability (but come at quite a price!), we wanted to find a product that would give a similar feel at a lesser cost, while avoiding the use of a general laminate.

We do use a specific marble cleaner, and avoid any harsh cleaners like Clorox to prevent etching the natural stone. If you do have natural countertops, you have to take slightly more care, however we have not had any problems at all in the two years since its installation.

Hardware

Lighting

When renovating/ updating your bathroom, also be mindful of your light fixture selections. To make a space feel more modern, add a sconce on either side of a mirror instead of a typical bath light on top, or choose a more current finish that ties into another part of your design.

Lighting can be the jewelry of a home, so let it make a statement!

For us, these Matte Black and Antique Gold Wall Sconce lights made just the statement we had been hoping for our bathroom. Slightly modern, yet timeless, these globe fixtures give out great light for getting ready in the mornings while still adding an attractive appearance to the bathroom.

Accessories

Finally, last but certainly not least, you can improve the look of your bathroom with accessories. From a hand towel ring and curtain rod to flowers and soap dispenser, your accessories can make or break your overall design. Typically, for towel rings and shower curtain rods and rings, try to stay consistent with a finish you have previously used.  I integrated black elements in the hand towel ring, curtain rod and shower curtain rings to tie into the matte black finish of our sconces, while the knobs we previously discussed brought out the gold finish of the sconces.

By adding a pop of fresh florals in a gold vase, I also wanted to add a sense of unity and delight to the bathroom, especially when we are having guests. To coordinate with our neutral tones, we integrated this porcelain soap dispenser and tasseled shower curtain from Target to add interest without competing with the other finishes in the room. To provide a little contrast however, we added Nile Blue towels for a pop of blue on our otherwise neutral walls to correspond to the blue of our artwork. Adding these little details can bring everything together to create a space that is inviting and makes you want to linger.

Final Thoughts

As the first project of our new home, Charlie and I have been delighted with the way our bathroom has felt, looked and lived ever since. I am so appreciative of ALL the love and help we received from our family and friends in the process and cannot thank them enough. The statement “it takes a village” is so true. It does take a village to come alongside to help, to make things beautiful, to bring new life and joy to a previously old and tired bathroom. So look around, see who might be willing to join you, and start on that update you have been secretly wishing for, because truly, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to transform a space into one that you will love to be in every day.

Happy creating!!

Chloe